Who knew that fruits and veggies could be so much fun?

We have a new store that opened in Colorado Springs this week...Sunflower Farmers Market. They were having their grand opening this weekend, so I took Paula and the girls to buy a few things. Paula had Carissa strapped to the front her in her pack and she immediately fell asleep. I put Lexi in the shopping cart and buckled her in, and it was like taking her into a candy store. She got very excited and the next thing we knew she was pointing and shouting "tomatoes, apples, bananas, strawberries!" Who knew she could have so much fun with fruits and veggies? She tried grabbing for a tomato (she loves tomatoes) and a cherry. Finally Paula got her preoccupied with a free sample of "natural chocolate pudding"...yumm...in a mini Dixie cup. She was a happy camper. On the way home, I gave her some pretzel balls that I had purchased, and she was good with those until she fell asleep in the car seat. I carefully took her out and put her in bed for a nap when we got home, so she could dream about the fun time at the fruit and veggie store.

Why we live in Colorado...

Bruce had an inspection last weekend up in Woodland Park, and he shot these pictures while he was there. Is there any doubt why we live in Colorado? It is truly God's country. Springtime is finally here and today we enjoyed a nice mid 70 degree day, so spent time out working in the yard. In contrast, we heard it was 103 degrees in Phoenix today. Any visitors for this summer?

On Losing your memory...

One of the benefits of getting older is that you start forgetting things--like where you put things, or things you need to get at the grocery store (this is why you need to make lists-if you can remember what to put on the lists). Since there are only two of us in the house, sometimes we try to blame the other person for misplacing something, and if that person doesn't admit putting it somewhere (or can't remember), then there is nobody left to blame except yourself. For example, last Saturday Bruce was paid for a small inspection he did in cash. He laid the money down on the desk upstairs, and then he couldn't remember what he did with it. So, when we figured it out that he must have put it in our cash pouch with the other cash we had, he checked there and the other cash we had in there was gone and then I couldn't remember taking it out or using all of it, so then we were trying to remember what we had spent cash on ( which we couldn't do). Then, the same day we went to Target to buy a few groceries. We went over what we needed before leaving the van, and then when we got in the van again to come home, we realized that we had forgotten something. Then yesterday, Bruce put the tithing envelope in his pocket to pay tithing (so he wouldn't forget). I asked him before Sunday School if he had paid tithing yet, and he said no and that he would do it. Then, when we got in the van to go home, he realized that he had not paid the tithing yet, so had to go back in the church to pay it. Then, there is the case of the "missing glasses." Bruce cannot ever remember where he puts his glasses (because he puts them in a different place each time), so has to spend extra time looking for them whenever he needs them. Sometimes he also has to hunt for his wallet or keys. I find myself putting things in places so I won't forget where I put them, and then I forget where that place was. It happens over and over. So I guess this is my reason for not exercising...I just forget to do it. Yeah right.

Reflections on Mother's Day and Mothering...

So, today being Mother's Day, I find myself reflecting about mothers...my own mother, and being a mother and some of the many memories I have of both. The most recent memories I have of my own mother are not very pleasant, so I like to remember some of the earlier times with my mother. One memory I have of a specific Mother's Day was when I was a college freshman attending U of A in Tucson. I called my mother up to wish her Happy Mother's Day and she started to cry. I asked her what was the matter, and she said, "This is the first Mother's Day that I haven't had one of my children home." I don't think I really understood that until it happened to me...then I knew how she felt. I loved my mother, even though sometimes she made me crazy. She always had faith in me that I could accomplish anything that I wanted if I put forth the effort. That always gave me the self-confidence I needed to do my best. I hope that I have somehow instilled that in my own children. It breaks my heart to see one of them do less than their best when I know they are capable of more.

As I think back on some of my favorite memories of my kids, I have to remember my two little "black boys." Black because they had both stripped down to their undies, and then covered themselves entirely with mud from a mud bath that they had made under the lemon tree in the back yard. The only thing I could see was the whites of their eyes. Of course, not all memories were pleasant, as the "garden" and "poop" episodes with Brent. He's lucky he's alive today. I think Heavenly Father blessed me with Tom, so I could have some peace in my life after Brent and before Paula. Paula was a difficult baby and child, but I remember how excited I was to finally have a little girl that I could dress up. I just think she had a very determined personality and strong spirit. It is that same spirit today that makes her such a good mother, a wonderful sister, and loving daughter. Paula is the "brains" of the family, Tom adds the humor, and Brent keeps us wondering what's next.

One of the hardest things that Mormon moms have to do is watch their sons leave on their missions, and one of the greatest joys is seeing them come home. Another difficult thing is seeing your baby girl get married. However, the joy comes when you are with all three of your children in the temple when that happens.

These are just a few random thoughts I had on this Mother's Day. I am grateful for each of my children, for the principles they live by, and the love they have for us. Thank you Brent, Tom, and Paula for being all this mother could ask for.

Freezing at the Ballpark

On April 11, I went to a Sky Sox baseball game with Bev and her neighbors, Roger and Carla. The Sky Sox are the farm team for the Rockies. Since I had not been to a Sky Sox game yet, I thought it would be fun to go check it out. I found there are some major differences between going to a ball game in AZ in April and going to a game in Colorado in April. #1-- It's too darn cold to be playing or watching a ball game!! We're talking about 30 something degrees with the wind blowing like crazy, and starting to drizzle. We were bundled up with coats, gloves, hats, long johns, and heavy socks, and I still froze. #2 -- You take blankets to sit on so you won't freeze your bottom on the seats. In AZ, you take blankets to sit on so you won't burn your bottom. #3 -- The pitchers wear long sleeves if they're smart and can't pitch as well as they would like to because their hands are FROZEN. I think they're actually relieved when they get pulled from the game because then they can thaw out. #4 The seats are almost empty because only a handful of people are stupid enough to sit outside for 2-3 hours and freeze to death. We lasted until the 7th inning and then left. We were ahead and I think they were probably ready to call the game anyway because it was starting to rain...or snow? I'm sure I will go to another Sky Sox game, but I'll wait until June or July when it's at least 70 degrees, thank you. The ballpark is really quite nice, and I think the team could be fun to watch, if I wasn't so concerned about my feet getting frost bitten!

Celebrating April 15th - Tax Day

Throughout the year, we celebrate various holidays...Christmas, Easter, Halloween, 4th of July, Valentine's Day, Groundhog Day. These days are usually happy, joyous occasions filled with wonderful family traditions. Then there's April 15, Tax Day. How do we celebrate Tax Day? By sharing what little money we have left from the year before with the IRS. Kinda reminds you of Robin Hood in reverse...instead of robbing the rich to give to the poor, the government is robbing the poor to give to the rich-the large corporations-so they can pay for their poor decisions and/or bonuses. I usually don't complain too much about paying taxes. After all, we do live in the greatest country in the world. However, this year I really don't appreciate how my taxes are being spent. That being said, I must reflect on tax preparation day in the Leavitt home. I have used Turbotax for years, so it does alot of my work for me. I still usually manage to spend a good majority of an entire day gathering info. and putting the numbers into the program, and then redoing some part of it before I'm done. Over the years, the program has changed. I miss the little automated persons with the annoying voices explaining where to put my numbers. Now I just have to read...very carefully. If you check the wrong box, then you have to go back and do it all over again. Now that we are older, have fewer deductions, and are mainly self-employed, we usually have to pay instead of getting a refund, so I wait longer to prepare the taxes. Just don't bother me on tax prep day, because I'm usually not in the best of moods. Last Friday was the long awaited day. I waited too long to get started, so I was up until 4 AM doing the stupid taxes. I was in a terrific mood when I went to bed, but at least nobody had to talk to me at 4 AM. So, how am I going to celebrate Tax Day? Maybe I will jump up and down with the realization that I don't have to do this again until next year, or may I will take all of my old herbal tea bags that I don't particularly care for and flush them down the toilet. By the way, even though we are having to pay federal taxes, we are getting a small refund from Colorado...imagine that!

Happy Easter or Merry Christmas???

So just when the rest of the world is celebrating Spring and a renewal of growth and green grass and flowers, here in Colorado we are getting snow and singing Christmas carols. It seems like every Easter, we get a huge snowfall. Yes, I am thankful for the moisture because we desperately need it, but it would be nice if it could come in the form of rain instead of snow. Fortunately, the snow does melt quickly this time of year. We are beginning to see a little green grass and the tulips are poking their heads through the ground in the background, even though it still gets chilly at night. After attending church on Sunday, we had a nice Easter dinner with Paula, Eddie and the girls.

I am grateful that on an Easter morning many years ago, Mary went to the tomb where they had laid Christ's body, only to find the tomb empty. After His tremendous suffering in Gethsemane and on the cross, Jesus Christ had broken the bonds of death and was resurrected as promised. What a glorious day! I am thankful to know that we too can be resurrected, as well as our loved ones who have passed on...what a wonderful reunion we will have!